Junktiques, an antique store on Highway 515, held the winning ticket on the Pickens County Chamber of Commerce auto raffle Saturday. Store owners, Marilyn Pitts and J.R. McCarthy opted for the $20,000 cash option, presented Monday at their store. Presenting them the check are Lexi Hardman and Regina Camp from the chamber of commerce (pictured above).

The consolation prize of $500 went to Jennifer Galligan (pictured left), who shows her disappointment at hearing her ticket called for second place. In an odd coincidence, the store owners were not at the event held for the first time at Rocco’s. They were among the few ticket holders not present. An unexpected doubling of the yearly crowd flooded the venue. Each of the 500 tickets entitles the holder to two dinners but usually less than half the ticket holders attend. Chamber president Denise Duncan attributed the sudden popularity of the longstanding yearly event to the move to the new venue. Unfortunately, the spike in attendance created problems with seating and food service. “There is no way we could have known that the move would see our yearly attendance double,” Duncan said. She thanked the staff at Rocco’s, the chamber staff and volunteers for doing everything they could to accommodate the crowd. She also thanked those who attended and were patient with the overcrowded conditions. Duncan said they had moved the event from the chamber building, which seated only 250 to Rocco’s where with the back decks, plus tent outside, accommodates 400. Next year, Duncan said they are planning to relocate again -- to another venue capable of handling a larger crowd.